Arc flash light



March 13 1926. 1,576,618

L. S. RENNICK ARC FLASH LIGHT Filed June 26f 1922 jnvcnio Z 26 SZZsnnZZ'Z; Y 13 4a.? Mine Patented Mar. 15, 1926.

sir a tar s LYLEfiaREl NlcK, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFQBNTA.

ARC rrLAsH Lreri'r. I

Application filed June 26, 1922. Serial No. 570,382.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYLE citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and .State of California,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc Flash Lights, or" whichthe following is a specifi cation. Y

My invention is an arc flash light, particularly usefulin photography, and considerably less expensive and more efficient than the powder flash light now in use; and it is an improvement on my arc flash light disclosed in my application filed April 12 1921, Serial No. 460,822. l

In this specification and the annexed drawing 1 disclose-my invention inthe form which I consider the best, but I do not'limit my invention to such torm'because it may be embodied in other forms, andit is to be understood that in and by the claims of this specification I intend to cover my invention in what ever form it may be embodied.

The figure in the drawing is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of my invention with the controlling electrode arcing switches open and the arcing electrodes in contact.

In the drawing 1 indicates a horizontal base bar which is mounted on the inside of the rear wall or door of a photographic flash cabinet (not shown). To the under side 0]": said bar 1 midway of its ends is secured a saddle 2 which fits over the upper end and sides of a solenoid 3, which solenoid is secured. at its upperlend'to said saddle and said base bar. Through the center or" said solenoid, saddle 2 and base bar 1 extends a vertical tube 4 on which the solenoid coil is wound and which extends slightly above said base bar and considerably below said solenoid, torming the cylinder of a dash pot 5, the piston 6 of which dashpot is the core of the solenoid 3; An inverted cup-shaped packing 7 is secured to the lower end of the piston 6 to prevent the air from'passingv upwardly from under said piston. The piston 6 has a longitudinal groove 8 in its periphery extending from its upper end to its lower end through which groove air enters from the top of the tubed past the packing 'l'into the lower end of the piston 6 on the up stroke thereof. Avalve 9 is connected to the lower end of the tube 4 through which the .air escapes from the lower end of the dash pot 5 under the pres S. RnNNroK, a

sure of the piston 6 on its downward stroke.

To the upper end of piston 6 is secured the lower end of a brass rod 10 to the upper end of which is" coupled a short rod '11 by means of an insulating coupling 12. On the upper end of rod 11 ismounted a bar 13 on the under side of which is formed a socket 1 1 in which fits the'upper end of said rod which is secured. in said socket by a set screw 15 seated therein. To the left end of bar 13iis connected oneend of an end 1 bar 16 by plates 17 and18oi insulation,

which respectively fit against the upper and lower sides of said bars, and by rivets 19, which extend through said plates. and. the

inner end of bar 16, and rivets20 which extend through said plates and the end of bar 13, said bars 13;and 16 being secured by said plates and rivets with their adjacent ends spaced slightly apart, thus insulating said bars from each other. To the right end of;

the bar 13 is connected one end of anlend bar 21 by plates 22 and 23 of insulation, which respectively fit against the upper and lower sides of said bars, and by rivets 24 and 25, said rivets 24: extending" through saidplates and through the. end of the bar 13 and said rivets 25 extending through said plates and through theen'd of the bar 13 and said rivets25' extending through said plates and the end of bar 21, said bars being 26 and 27 control thecircuit of my arc, flash 1 light. The switch 26 includes a pair of carbon electrodes 28 and 29, av bearing 30, mounted in the, basebar 1, a vertical rod 31 slidable in'said bearing, and an air bulb 32.

The electrode 28 is secured at its upper end ,ina socket 33-on the lower side-ofbar 13,

near the left end of saidbarfby a set screw 34. a I a r The electrode 29 is carried by the base 36 seated in thebasebar 1 acent the left side of solenoid 3. An, insulating collar 37 .bar 1, its lower end resting in a socket 35 r on the upperend of rod 31.- The bearing .30 extends through aninsulating bushing.

fits on the bearing 30 against the upper insulating collar 10 fits on the bearing 30 against the under. side of base bar 1 and a washer 41 fits on said bearing against said collar. A nut 42 screws on the bearing against the washer 41. The collars 36,

37 and 40 insulate the bearing from the bar 1 and the nuts 39 and 42 secure the bearing 30 on bar 1. The bulb 32 is mounted on a foot 43 on the lower end of the left leg 01 saddle 2. The switch 27 includes a pair of of carbon electrodes 45 and 46, a bearing 47, a "ertical rod 48 slidable in said bearing and an, air bulb 49. The bearing 47 is similar to bearing 30 and ismounted in and insulated from the base barzl adjacent the right side of solenoid 3 by a structure similar to that by means of which the bearing 30 is mounted in and insulated from said bar. The electrode'45 is secured at its upper end inv a'socket 50 on the lower side of bar 13, near the right end of said bar, by a set screw 51. The electrode 46 is carried by bulb 49 is mounted on a foot 53 on the lower end of the right leg of saddle 2'. A rubber tube I54is connected at its ends to the bulbs 32 and 49 respectively, said tube extending through the feet 43 and 53. A rubber tube .55 is connected at one end to tube 54, and

at its other end to a bulb 56. A tube 57 leads from tube and is connected to the shutter 58 of a camera. At the left of the controlling electrode arcing switch 26 are mounted upon the bars 16 and 1 respectively, a pair of carbon arcing electrodes 59 and 60, the electrode 59 being secured at its upper end in a socket 61 on the lower side of bar 16 near the inner end of said bar by a set screw 62, andthe electrode fitting at its lower'endi-n a socket 63 onthe upper end of a vertical rod 64 slidably mounted in a bearing 65 similar to hearing 30, which hearing 65 is mounted in and insulated from the base bar 1 a structure similar .to that by means of which the bearing 30 is mounted in and insulated from said bar.

A spring 66 surrounds the upper end of bearing 65 and rod 64 between the nut 39 on said bearing and the socket 63. At the left of the electrodes 59 and 60 are mounted respectively uponthe bars 16 and 1* a pair of carbon arcing electrodes 69 and 70, the electrode 69 being secured at its upper end in a socket 71 on the lower side of bar 16 at the outer end of said bar by a set screw 72, and the electrode fitting at its lower end in a socket 73 on the upper end of a vertical rod 74slidably mounted in a bearing 75, similar to bearing .30, which bearing 75 is mounted in theouter end of bar 1 and insulated from said bar by a structure similar to that whereby the bearing 30 is mount- A spring mounted and insulated from said bar.

bearing and the socket 73. At the right of the controlling electrode arcing switch 27 are mounted respectively upon bars 31 and 1 a pairof arcing electrodes 79 and 80, the electrodes 79 being secured at its upper end in a socket 81 on the lower side of bar 21 near the inner end of said bar by a set screw 82, and the electrode being mounted in a bearing 85 similar to bearing 7 30 which bearing 85 is mounted in and insulated from the bar 1 by a structure similar to that whereby the bearing 30 spring 86 surrounds the bearing 85 and rod 84 between socket 83 and nut 39 on said bearingp A pair of carbon electrodes 89 and 90 are respectively mounted at the right of electrodes 79 and 80 upon the ends of bars 21 and 1, the electrodes 79 being secured at its upper end in a socket. 91 dep'ending from the outer end of bar 21 by a set screw 92, and the electrode 90 is fitted at its lower end in a socket 93 ion the upper end of a rod 94 slidably mounted in, a bearing 95, similar to bearing 30, which bearing 95 is mounted in and insulated from the outer end of bar 1 by a structuresimilar to that whereby the bearingBO. is mounted in and insulated from said bar. A spring 96 surrounds the bearing 95' and rod 94between socket 93 and nut 39 on said bearing. A vertical guide rod 100 is secured at its lower end in the bar 1 and extends upwardly through an aperture 101 in the bar 21 which rod prevents turning of 'the ba-rs 13, 16 and 31 and the piston 6, thus maintaining the electrodes 69, 59, 28, 45, 79 and 89 in alignment with the electrodes 70, 60, 29, 46, 80

and 90 respectively. A pair of nuts 102 and 103 screw on the lower threaded end of each of the rods 74, 64, 31, 48, S5 and 94.

The electric circuit of my arc flash light is as. follows:

To the mains and 111 are respectively connected leads 112 and 113. v in turn connects to a terminal 114. A lead 115 connects to terminal 114 and to the arm'of a rheost-at, 116. A lead 117 connects to one end contact of said rheostat and to one end of the coil of solenoid 3. A lead 118 is connected to the other end of said solenoid and to a lead 119. which is- -con- The lead 112 i nuts 102 and 103 on said rod. A lead125 32 and 49 and expands said bulbs.

is connected to rod" 84 by the nuts 102 and 103 on said rod and to lead 119. It will be noted that the resistance 120 is in series with the arcing electrodes and that the rheostat 116 is in series, with the solenoid and the switches 26 and 27. A

' The operation of my arc flash light is as follows:

Normally the parts are in {the position shown. The object to be photographed being focusedto the camera lens 58, the bulb 56 is compressed bythe photographer which forces air through tubes 55 and 54 into bulbs The expanding bulbs, 32 and49 engaging the lower ends of rods 31 and 48 lift the electrodes 29 and 46 into contact with electrodes 28 and respectively and close the controlling switches 26 and 27. Electric current passes from main 110 through lead 112 to terminal 114, and, following the path of 1 least resistance, passes through lead 115, rheostat 116, lead 117, the coil of solenoid 3, lead 118, lead 119, rods 31 and 48, electrodes 29 and 46, electrodes 28 and 45, bar 13, and lead 113 to main 111 while at the same time the current passes from lead 112 and terminal 114, throughresistance 120, terminal 121, lead 122, rod 74, electrodes 70 and 69, bar 16, electrodes 59 and 60, rod 64, lead 123, lead 119, switch 26, bar 13 and lead 113 to main 111, and from terminal 121 current also passes through lead 124, rod 94, electrodes 90 and 89, bar 21, electrodes 79 and 80, rod 84, lead 125, lead 119, rod 48,

switch 27, bar 13 and lead 113 to main 111,

whereupon the solenoid quickly lifts piston 6, (air passing into the lower end of dash pot 5 through groove 8) coupling 12, rod 11,

, bars 13, 16 and 21, and the electrodes 69,

59, 28, 45, 79 and 89 away from the electrodes 7 0, 60, 29, 46, 80' and 90 respectively (the electrodes 70, 60, 80 and 90 being raised slightly by springs 76, 66, 86 and 96 as said parts are lifted) causing an arciflash light between the electrodes 69 and 70,'electrodes 59 and 60,'electrodes 28 and 29, electrodes 45 and 46, electrodes 79 and 80 and elec trodes S9 and 90, and during said flash light air is compressed by bulb 56 through tubes 55 and 57 and the camera shutter 58 is opened and the object photographed by the camera. The raising of the electrodes 28 and 45 away from the electrodes 29 and 46 breaks the circuit, and the piston 6, rod 10, coupling 12, rod 11, bars 13, 16 and 21, and electrodes 69, 59, 28, 45, 79 and 89 descend slowly, owing to the slow escape of air from the dash pot 5, (which may be regulated by valve 9) under the pressure of said piston, through valve 9, until the electrodes 69, 59,

7 9 and 89 engage electrodes 70, 60, 80 and 90 respectively and force the electrodes 79',

wt voltages.

. switches 26 and 27 are open and the circuit broken. Theparts are the-n again in their normal position.

It will be noted that therheostat 116 is in series with the solenoid 3, but not in series with the electrodes whereby the voltage passing through the solenoid may be varied to enable the solenoid 'to throw the upper electrodes upwardly the proper distance to make the flash 'without varying thevoltage passing through the electrodes. This feature-is particularly useful for con; nectingfthe device to service lines of differ- I claim: 1

1. In an arc flash light, a light circuit including a pair-of arcing electrodes normally in contact, a switch comprising a pairof electrodes normally a slight distance apart,'means for moving one of the electrodes of said switch into contact with the other switch electrode to close the light cir- I cuit, and means for quickly moving apart said switch electrodes and said arcing electrodes to cause an arc flash light between said switch electrodes and an arc flash light between said arcing electrodes.

2. Inan arc flash light, a pair of arcing electrodes normally in contact, a controlling switch comprising a pair of electrodes normally a slight distanceapart, an electric circuit including said switch, a solenoid the core of which carries one electrode of said switch and one electrode of said arcing electrodes, said arcing electrodes and a resistance in series with said arcing electrodes,

means for moving the other switch electrode into contact with switch electrode mounted n on said solenoid core to close said circuit so that said solenoid will move the switch and arcing electrodes mounted thereon quickly away from their companion electrodes to cause a flash light between said companion electrodes.

3. In an arc flash light, a pair of electrodes normally spaced slightly apart, a

solenoid, adash pot in which the core of said solenoid reciprocates as a piston, one ofsaid electrodes being carried by said solenoidcore, and means for lifting the other electrode to bring said electrodes into contact to close the solenoidcircuit so that the solenoid core will raise the electrode mounted thereon quickly .away' from the other electrode, said dash pot including means to permit free separation of the electrodes and to retard the approach thereof. 4. In an arc flash light, a pair of electrodes normally spaced slightly apart, .a

solenoid, a dash pot in, which the core of said solenoid reciprocates as a piston, one of said electrodes being carried by said solenoid core,'and means for lifting the other electrode tov bring said electrodes into contact to close the solenoid'circuit so that the solenoid core will raise the electrode mounted thereon quickly away from 'the other electrode, said dash pot retarding the descent of said electrode mounted upon said core and a valve for regulating the escape of air from said dash pot under the influence of the descent of said core.

5. In an arc flash light, a pair of arcing electrodes normally in contact, a switch comprising a pair of electrodes normally spaced slightly apart, a spring for forcing the lower electrode of said arcing electrodes into engagement with the the upper elec- 20 trodes thereof when said arcing electrodes are in normal position, a solenoid, the upper electrodes of said switch electrodes and said electrodes quickly to produce a flash li ht said spring moving said lower arcing e cotrode up slightly when the upper arcing electrode is raised, and a dash pot of. which said solenoid core formsthe piston for retarding the descent of said upper electrodes, said lower arcing electrode being engaged and forced downwardly by the upper arcing electrode against the cushion of said spring when said upper electrode descends.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my sign ature LYLE S. RENNICK. 

